User:Chronographos/Family letters

a letter to mom

Αντώνις Λόνγος Νειλούντι [τ]ηι μητρί π[λ]ίστα χαίρειν. και διά παντός εύχομαι σαι υγιαίνειν. το προσκύνημά σου ποιώ κατ' αικάστην ημαίραν παρά τώι κυρίωι [Σερ]άπειδει, γεινώσκειν σαι θέλω ότι ουχ [ήλπ]ιζον ότι αναβένις εις την μητρόπολιν, χ[ά]ρειν δε τούτο ουδ' εγό εισήλθα εις την πόλιν. αιδ[υ]σοπο[ύ]μην δε ελθείν εις Kαρανίδαν ότι σαπρώς περιπατώ. αίγραψά σοι ότι γυμνός ειμί. παρακα[λ]ώ σαι, μήτηρ, δ[ι]αλάγητί μοι. λοιπόν οίδα τι [εγώ?] αιμαυτώι παρέσχημαι. παιπαίδευμαι καθ' όν δί τρόπον. οίδα ότι ημάρτηκα. ήκουσα παρά το[υ Ποστο?]υμου τον ευρόντα σαι εν τώι Αρσαινοείτηι και ακαιρέως πάντα σοι διήγηται. ουκ οίδες ότι θέλω πηρός γενέσται ει γνούναι όπως ανθρόπωι [έ]τ[ι] οφείλω οβολόν;

verso: [Νειλούντι] μητρεί απ' Αντωνίωι Λόνγου υειού

Papyrus B.G.U. 846:1,120 Hunt-Edgar - (2nd century AD)

Antonis Longos to his mother Neilous, many greetings. I wish you health for ever. I pray for you every day to the lord Serapis. I want you to know that I didn't expect your coming up to the capital. That is why I did not come to town myself. I was ashamed to come to Karanis, as I walk dressed in rags. I wrote you that I am naked. Mother, I beg you, reconcile with me. Now I know what [I?] brought upon myself. I have suffered duly. I know that I have been wrong. I heard from [Posthumus?] that he met you in the (nome of) Arsinoites and inopportunely told you everything. Don't you know that I'd sooner become an invalid than know that I still owe anyone a penny?

Reverse: To mother [Neilous] from (her) son Antonios Longos

a letter to dad

Απίων Επιμάχωι τώι πατρί και κυρίωι πλείστα χαίρειν. προ μεν πάντων εύχομαί σε υγιαίνειν και δια παντός ερ[ρ]ωμένον ευτυχείν μετά της αδελφής μου και της θυγατρός αυτής και του αδελφού μου. ευχαριστώ τωι κυρίωι Σεράπιδι ότι μού κινδυνεύοντος εις θάλασσαν έσωσεν ευθέως. ότε εισήλθον εις Μησηνούς έλαβα βιατικόν παρά Καίσαρος χρυσούς τρείς. και καλώς μοι εστίν. ερωτώ σε ουν κύριέ μου πατήρ, γράψον μου επιστόλιον, πρώτον μεν περί της σωτηρίας σου, δεύτερον περί της των αδελφών μου, τρ[ί]τον ίνα σου προσκυνήσω την χέραν, ότι με επαίδευσας καλώς και εκ τούτου ελπίζω ταχύ προκόσαι, των θεών θελόντων. άσπασαι Καπίτων[α π]ολλά και τους αδελφούς [μ]ου και Σε[ρηνί]λλαν και το[υς] φίλους μο[υ]. έπεμψά σο[ι ει]κόνιν μου διά Ευκτήμονος. έστι δε μου όνομα Αντώνις Μάξιμος. ερρώσθαι εύχομαι. Κεντυρί[α] Αθηνονίκη.

verso: Εις Φιλαδελφίαν Επιμάχωι από Απίωνος υιού. Απόδος εις χώρτην πρίμαν Απαμηνών Ιουλιανού Αν[τονίωι?] λιβλαρίωι από Απίωνος ώστε Επιμάχωι πατρί αυτού

Papyrus B.G.U. 2.423: 1,112 Hunt-Edgar - (2nd century AD)

Apion to Epimachus his lord and father many greetings. First of all I wish you health, perpetual strength and happiness with my sister, her daughter and my brother. I thank the lord Serapis for saving me just when I was in danger at sea. When I arrived at Mesenoi (a military port) I received my wayfare from Caesar (i.e. the Roman state), three gold pieces. And all is well with me. I ask of you, my lord and father: write me a little letter, first about your health, second about that of my brothers and sisters, third that I may kiss your hand, for you have brought me up well and because of this I hope soon to prosper, the gods willing. Many kisses to Kapiton, and to my brothers, and to Serenilla and my friends. I sent you a little picture of me with Euktemon. My (military) name is Antonis Maximus. I wish you strength. Centuria Athenonike.

Reverse: To Philadelphia for Epimachus from (his) son Apion. Deliver to the First Cohort of the Apameans, to Julian An[thony?], the secretary, from Apion for his father Epimachus.

a letter to bro

Σεμπρώνιος Μαξίμωι τωι αδελφώι πλ[ε]ίστα χαίρειν. προ των όλων ερώσθε σε εύχομαι. μετέλαβον ότι βαρέως δουλεύ[ου]τε την κυρίαν ημών μητέραν. ερωτηθείς άδελφε γλυκύταται, εν μηδενί αυτήν λύπει. εί δει τεις των αδελφών αντιλέγει αυτήι, συ οφείλεις αυτούς κολαφίζει[ν]. ήδη γαρ πατήρ οφίλεις καλείσθαι. επείσταμε ότι χωρίς των γραμμάτων μου δυνατός εί αυτήι αρέσε, αλλά μη βαρέως έχε μου τα γράμματα νουθετούν[τ]ά σε, οφίλομεν γαρ σέβεσθε την τεκούσαν ως θε[όν], μάλιστα τοιαύτην ούσαν αγαθήν. ταύτα σοι έγραψα, άδελφε, επειστάμενος την γλυκασίαν των κυ[ρί]ων γονέων. καλώς π[ο]ιήσις γράψας μοι περί της σ[ωτ]ηρίας υμ[ώ]ν. έρρωσό μοι, άδελφε

verso: απόδος Μαξίμωι από Σεμπρωνίου αδελφού

Papyrus R.E.G. 1919, p. 204: 1,121 Hunt-Edgar - (2nd century AD)

Sempronius to his brother Maximus, many greetings. First of all I wish you strength. I was informed that you impose heavily upon our lady mother. I beg you, sweetest brother, do not make her worry about anything. And if one of our brothers objects to her, you ought to slap them! For you should be named father already. I know that even without my letters you may comfort her, but do not begrudge my letters of admonishment, for we owe reverence to her who gave us birth, as if to a god, especially since she is so good. Ι wrote you these, brother, knowing the sweet love (of children) towards the lords their parents. You will do well to write me about the health of you all. Be well, my brother.

Reverse: Deliver to Maximus from Sempronius, (his) brother

Comments

1. Total confusion between ι, ει and η, meaning that they were already pronounced as -i-, while some established -ει- spellings are simplified to -ε- (χέραν, compare identical modern Cretan usage). Y and οι are still spared.

2. Total confusion between αι and ε, meaning that they were already pronounced as -e-.

3. Pronunciation of β as -v- (βιατικόν, viaticum)

3. Disregard for spiritus asper (κατ' αικάστην), and for spiritus lenis (ουχ' ήλπιζον).

4. Pronunciation of double consonants as single ones (ερώσθε)

5. Simplified thematic declension of athematic nouns ("Καρανίδαν", "μητέραν", "χέραν").

6. Usage of the Nominative in lieu of the Vocative (μήτηρ for μήτερ, πατήρ for πάτερ)

7. Simplified conjugation of irregular verbs (οίδες for οίσθα, γνούναι for γνώναι), confusion between similar-sounding but different forms of irregular verbs (έρ(ρ)ωσθε - ερρώσθαι), simplified conjugation of regular verbs (έλαβα for έλαβον), temporally inappropriate usage of infinitives (προκόσαι) and participles (ερωτηθείς, γράψας).

7. Simplification of diminutive suffixes (εικόνιν), or suffixes that resemble them (Αντώνις)

8. Increasing avoidance of the Dative in favor of the Accusative (εις θάλασσαν for εν θαλάσσηι)